Roll adjusting means



6. 1939- G. w. VON HOFE ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORGEO/P65 14 VON/{one Filed Npv. 18, 1937 ATTORNEKS June 6, 1939. I w VHQFE 2,161,325

ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Nov. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR.GFORGE PK VON Aora ATTORNEY- v Patented June 6,1939

PATENT OFFICE ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N.1., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 18.1937, SerialNo. 115,241

9 Claims.

The invention relates to mechanisms including rolls arranged inco-operative relation to each other, and more particularly toarrangements of rolls such as exemplified by adhesive distributing andadhesive applying rolls whereby coatings of'adhesive are applied tolabels or other sheets of material. Such r'oll arrangements are Iembodied in many existing types of labeling machines and theirequivalent and are also present in many conventional forms of so-calledgumming machines.

In order to insure operative eiliciency and to meet the requirements ofvarying conditions,

it is desirable and even necessary to provide for the relativeadjustment of said rolls in directions toward and away from each other.secure the best results, it is generally desirable to maintain the rollsin accurate axial or sur-' face parallelism throughout the range ofadjustment.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel adjusting meanswhereby at least one roll is selectively movable toward and away from 'aco-operating roll in a simple manner, and whereby the desired axial orsurface parallelism of said rollers is automatically maintained at alltimes without the need for any special oper tions to insure this result.1

Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafterand the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the; accompanying drawings which illustrate an example of theinvention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thenovel adjusting means embodied in a conventional roll arrangement; Fig.2 is an enlarged detail view partly in section; Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysection approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detailsection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 on a still larger scale.-

The novel adjusting means is illustrated in the drawings and isdescribed hereinafter in connection with a gumming machine, it beingunderstood that this type of machine has been selected merely tosimplify the description and without any intention ofrestricting therange of usefulf ness of the novel features.

In the illustrated roll arrangement, an adhesive applying roll III ofconventional type is carried by a shaft ll journalled in the sidemembers l2 of the gumming machine, and is located in operative relationto an adhesive distributlngrOll l3 mounted upon a shaft ll. The shaftsII and H of the respective rolls in and I3 may carry gears IS in meshwith each othervand with a pinion l6 fixed 'upon a shaft ll rotatablymounted in the side members l2; the pinion It may also be operativelyconnected with the gear l8 whereby conventional feed rollers iii areactuated. As shown, the shaft l1 may carry a pulley 20 connected bymeans of a belt 2| with an electric motor 22 whereby the rolls l0 and I3and the feed rollers 19 are operated; a guard ,or protecting cover 23may be suitably mounted in place to enclose the earing, pulleys andbelt.

In the operation of the illustrated type of roll arrangement, whetherembodied in a gum-- ming machine. a labeling machine or other mechanism,the adhesive distributing roll l3 receives a surface supply of adhesive,for instance by dipping into an adhesive container 24 and distributessaid adhesive upon the surface of the adhesive applying roll Ill. Thelatter in turn applies a coating of suchadhesive to labels or othersheets of material which are fed into engagement with said roll IQ, forinstance by the feed rollers iii. In order that the coating of adhesiveapplied by the roll l3 may be even and uniform throughout, it isessential to have said roll l3 in exact axial or surface parallelismwith the roll l0 so that the distribution of adhesive by the latter tothe applying-roll l3 may be correspondingly even and uniform. Obviously,the thickness of a coating of adhesive, or in other words, the amountthereof which is applied by the-roll l3 to .the labels or theirequivalent, will be determined by the amount of adhesive transferred tosaid roll l3 by the distributing roll in. This in turn is determined bythe positions of the surfaces of the rolls to and I3 relatively to eachother; if said rolls in and I3 are in contact with each other, theamount of adhesive transferred to the surface of the roll l3 will .be inthe nature of a light or thin coating, and if the surfaces of saidrolls"! and i3 are spaced from, each other, the amount of transferredadhesive will be in the form of a heavier or thicker coating.

To enable the coatings of adhesive applied by the roll ii to the labelsor their equivalent to be varied within a given range to provide lighteror heavier coatings of adhesive on'said labels or The aforesaid rolladjustment is easily effected.

by the instant novel adjusting means which at the same timeautomatically maintains said rolls in accurate axial or surfaceparallelism throughout without requiring .any independent operations oradjustments to bring about this condition.

In the illustrated example, the adjusting means comprises levers 25 inwhich the shaft l4 ofthe distributing roll I0 is journalled, said levers25 being fulcrumed at one end upon suitable portions of the side membersl2 of the machine. To enable the levers 25 to be independently adjustedfor the purpose for instance of initially setting the roll ID inaccurate axial or surface parallelism with the roll l3, the fulcrums ofsaid levers 25 are preferably adjustable. For this purpose saidfulcrums, as shown in Fig. 1, may consist of supporting screws 26 inthreaded engagement with and depending from the levers 25, the heads orequivalent ends of said screws 26 resting upon the aforesaid suitableportions of the side members l2; any conventional means may be providedfor fixing the fulcrum screws -26 in adjustedfpositions, this meansbeing exemplified in the illustrated example by lock nuts 26*.

An adjusting shaft 21 is journalled in' bearings 28 provided at theproper points on the side members I2 and extends through the levers 25at their opposite ends so as to be rotatable relatively to said levers25, the latter preferably beingprovided with bearing heads 29 havingopenings 30 for the accommodation of the shaft 21; as shown in Fig. 3,the bearing heads 29 are located between the bearings 28 of the sidemembers l2 and collars 3| secured on the shaft 21 for instance by setscrews 32, and accordingly are maintained against shifting lengthwise ofsaid shaft '21. At points in interior registry with the bearing heads 29of the levers 25, the shaft 21 is provided with surface recesses 33 forthe reception of keys 34, preferably of the so-called Woodruif type,which keys in their operative positions are in surface engagement withthe annular faces of the openings 30, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 21further is recessed to provide flattened portions 35 located preferablyat points diametrically opposite the recesses 33 and in some casesextendsurfaces at the point 0, as shown in Fig. 4; with this arrangementthe shaft 21 is eccentric to the bearing heads- 29 and in three pointengagement therewith at preferably equidistant points a, b

and c of the openings 30 for the purpose to be more fully set forthhereinafter. I

In practice the shaft 21 is rotated on its axis to effect the desiredroller adjustments and accordingly is preferably provided with operatingmeans to facilitate the'rotative operation there.- of. The saidoperating means may be of any suitable type and in the exampleillustrated is shown in the form of an operating'crank 36 which isfastened in place on said shaft 21 by a set screw 31 or its equivalent.Suitable provision is made to fix the shaft 21 and its associatedelements in adjusted positions, as for instance by locating a. springwasher 38 on the shaft 2 between the crank 36 and the contiguous bearing28 of the one side member l2 as shown in Fig. 3; it will be understoodthat the crank 36 is fixed on the shaft 21 so as to clamp said Washer 38between itself and the contiguous bearing 28 and to thereby cause saidwasher 38 to develop frictional pressure upon the opposed surfaces ofsaid bearing 28 and crank 36 sufficient to maintain the latter andconsequently the shaft 21 against unintentional rotative movement.

For the purpose of visually indicating the adjustment effected by theadjusting means, it is desirable to provide indicating means of suitablecharacter. In the form shown in the drawings, this indicating meanscomprises a projection or pointer 39 formed on the handle of theoperating crank 36 and co-operating with a scale 40 of predetermineddesignating significance upon a suitable scale plate. As illustrated inFig. 1, the scale 40 may be produced upon the guard or protecting cover23 in contiguous relation to a slot 4| formed therein, and through whichthe handle of the crank 36 projects. The-slot 4| is curved in an arehaving the axis of the shaft 2'! as its centre andthe parts are arrangedand dimensioned so that the projection or pointer 39 projects over thesurface of the guard-23 or equivalent scale plate as shown in Figs. 1and 3; if desired, the guard 23 or equivalent scale plate may beprovided wth notches 42 in registry with the divisions of t e scale 40,in which notches 42 the projection or pointer .39 seats itself as adetent when the operating crank 36 is actuated. The inherent elasticityof the materials of which the guard 23 or equivalent scale plate and thecrank 36 are made may be relied upon to seat the projection or pointer39 in the notches 42, or

additional means may be provided for this purand 13 are slightly spacedfrom each other and may be set to occupy an intermediate position in therange of adjustment. If the operating crank 36 of the novel adjustingmeans is moved downwardly in Fig. 1, the shaft 2'! will becorrespondingly rotated to cause the points a and b thereof and thepoint 0 represented by the key 34 to rotatively travel along thesurfaces of the openings 30; in other words, the keys 34 and theflattened portions 35 will follow the operative movements of the crank36. This rotative shifting of the points a, b and 0 will cause the keys34 in co-operatlon with the flattened portions 35 to develop aneccentric camming action on the bearing heads 29 which will 'swingthelevers 25 down wardly on the fulcrums 26 and accordingly shift theroll 33 further away from the roll l0. If, on

the other hand, the operating crank 36 is moved keys 34 and the as- 35.or in other words,

the three point contacts a, b and 0, remain in the same relationship toeach other throughout any given operations of the adjusting means. Thusas the operating crank v36 is moved in-one direction or the other tocorrespondingly rotate the"- shaft 27-, the keys 34 will describecircular paths about the centre 11 thereof, which paths are eccentric toopenings 30. .The keys 34 will accordingly fleyelop a camming action onthe bearing .the invention.

readily assembled as will be apparent.

heads 29 whereby the centers e of the latter are shifted for instance tothe points e or e dependent upon the direction of movement of the to apoint between e and e, or e and c, as the case may be. in any event,-thenecessary relative shifting of the parts during such operations isreadily permitted by the flattened portions 35; similarly, anylengthwise or other movement of the levers 25 which may be necessary toenable the latter and the roll I! to accommodate themselves to thechanging positions of the point e is easily possible because ofmovability of the fulcrum screws 26 on their supportingsurfaces.

As the operating crank 36 is actuated in the manner described above, thepointer 39 in cooperation with the-scale 40 will indicate the ad-Justment, and at the same time saidindicator 39 by snapping into thenotches 42 will maintain the operating crank 36 in its adjustedposition. Concurrently with these operations the friction developed bythe spring washer 38 on the opposed surfaces of the bearing 28 and thecrank 36 will prevent any unintentional rotation of the shaft 21 whichmight disturb the desired adjustment of the roll l3 relatively to theroll in. Because of the fact that the shaft 21 and its associated keys34 andiiattened portions 35 are concurrently active upon both levers 25,the surface of the roll l3 will be maintained in accurate relation tothe surface of the roll l throughout the range of adjustment withoutrequiring any independent operations to be performed to effect thisresult. The roll I! may be initially adjusted into any desired surfacerelation with the roll III, by suitably manipulating the fulcrum screws26 and securing them against unintentional movement by means of the locknuts 2t or their equivalent; it will be noted as the fulcrum screws 26are manipulated that the roll I3 is tilted on its axis toward and awayfrom the roll l0 until the-desired relative surface adjust-. ment hasbeen attained.

From the aboveit is clear that the novel adjusting means is of maximumefli'ciency in operation and that it'requires-no particular skill in itsoperation. At the sametime the adjustment of the roll l3 relatively tothe roll ll may be effected in a minimum period of time by simplyactuating the operating crank 36 in a manner to bring about the desiredresults.

The arrangement of the flattened portions 35 and the surface recesses 33and the use of keys 34 of the Woodruff type enable the parts to be While,keys 34 of the type'indicated are preferred, it

is obvious that other forms of keys as well as equivalent devices may besubstituted therefor without affecting the emciency of the adjustingmeans as a whole. I

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be madewithin the scope of the claims without. departing from the spirit of v Iclaim: v

1. Thecombination of two co-operating rolls. a pair of levers forrotatably supporting one of said rolls, adjustable fulcrums at one endof said levers, bearing heads-at the opposite ends of said levers, anadjusting shaft extending through and a rotatable in said bearing headsin' eccentric relation thereto, keys carried by said shaft in internalengagement with said heads, said shaft rotating said shaft to adjustsaid keys and flattened portions eccentrically of said bearing headswhereby said levers are pivotally actuated on said fulcrums to shiftsaid one roll toward and away from the other roll at will.

2. The combination of two co-operating rolls, a pair of levers forrotatably supporting one of said rolls, adjustable fulcrums at one endof said levers, bearing heads at the opposite ends of said levers, anadjusting shaft extending through and having flattened portions atpoints diametrically opposite said keys, and an operating crank for roatable in said bearing heads in eccentric rclation thereto, keys carriedby said shaft in internal engagement with said heads, said shaft havingflattened portions at points diametrically opposite said keysj anoperating crank for rotating said shaft to adjust said keys andflattened portions eccentrically of said bearing heads whereby saidlevers are pivotally actuated on said fulcrums to shift said one rolltoward and away from the other roll at will, a detent carried by saidoperating crank, and a plate slotted to movably accommodatesaidoperating crank and having notches for receiving said detent to therebyrestrain said operating crank against unintentional movement.

3. The combination of two co-cperating rolls, a pair of levers forrotatably supporting one of said rolls, adjustable fulcrums at one endof said levers, bearing heads at the opposite ends of said levers, anadjusting shaft extending through and rotatable in said bearing heads ineccentric relation thereto, keys carried by said shaft in internalengagement with said heads, said shaft having flattened portions atpoints diametrically opposite said keysfan operating crank for rotatingsaid shaft to adjust said keys and flattened portions eccentrically ofsaid bearing heads 4. In a machine including a pair ofco-operatingrolls, mechanism associated with the operation and functionsof said rolls, and a pro- I tecting cover for said mechanism, thatimprovement which comprises the provision of a slot in saidprotectingcover and. a series of spaced notches adjacent to said slot,said cover further having a scale produced thereon in contiguousrelation to said notches, adjusting means for adjusting one of saidrolls relatively to the other roll, an operating crank projectingthrough and movable lengthwise of said slot and arranged to selectivelyoperate said adjusting means, and'a detent pointer on said operatingcrank co-opcrating with said scale to visibly indicate the adjustmenteffected by said adjusting means and arranged to seat itself in saidnotches to maintain said operating crank against unintentional movement.

5. The combination of two co-operating rolls, a pair of levers forrotatably supporting one of levers, an adjusting shaft extending throughand rotatablein said bearing heads in eccentric re-.

lation thereto, means on said shaft adapted to develop eccentricallyeffective forces on said bearing heads whereby said levers are pivotallyactuated on said fulcrums to shift said one roll toflattened portions intwo point contact therewith whereby said shaft is in eccentric relationto said heads, keys carried by said shaft in internal engagement withsaid heads at a third point thereof, and means for rocking said shaft onits axis to develop eccentrically effective forces on said bearing headsat said three contact points whereby said levers are pivotally actuatedon said fulcrumsto shift said roll in an arc curved about said fulcrumsas centers.

7. The combination of a pair of spaced parallel levers pivotally mountedat one end and provided with openings having curved camming surfaces attheir other ends, a roll journalled in said levers, and adjusting meansextending eccentrically through said openings in contact with the curvedsurfaces thereof at three spaced individual points and adapted tocoincidentally actuate said levers pivotally to shift said roll in anare curved about the pivots of said levers.

8. The combination of a frame, two co-operating rolls, a pair of leverseach fulcrumed at one end on said frame for rotatably supporting one .ofsaid rolls, bearing heads at the opposite ends of said levers providedwith openings having curved camming surfaces, an adjusting shaftjournalled on said frame extending through and rotatable in saidopenings in eccentric relation to the camming surfaces thereof, means onsaid shaft adapted to develop eccentri'cally effective in eccentricrelation to the camming surfaces thereof, means on said shaft adapted todevelop eccentricaily effective forces on said curved camming surfaceswhereby said levers are pivotally actuated on said fulcrums toselectively shift said one roll toward and away from the other roll, andactuating means for rotatively operating said actuating shaft.

GEORGE W. VON HOFE.

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